Stop paying your mortgage and you will undoubtedly face foreclosure -- and perhaps the local sheriff as well if you don't leave the property on your own. Timelines vary from state to state as to how long you can live in your home without paying the mortgage. In some cases, you can delay foreclosure proceedings in court, giving you more time to get back on your feet or find a new place to live.
Tips
How long you can remain in your home without paying the mortgage depends on the lender and the laws in the state in which you reside. Eviction can take place in as little as a few months or as long as a year.
Defaulting on Your Loan
In most cases, you will need to miss three to five mortgage payments before your lender can begin foreclosure proceedings. Once the lender decides to foreclose, you will typically be given 30 days notice prior to the action being filed. At this point you might be able to delay by another month or two by speaking with a HUD-approved housing counselor and setting up a workout agreement with your lender. This means that you could live in your home without paying the mortgage for five to seven months before foreclosure proceedings even begin.
Understanding Foreclosure Types
Once the lender initiates the foreclosure, the clock is ticking. There are two types of foreclosure. Judicial foreclosure take place within the court system and require that your borrower initiate a complaint against you. Non-judicial foreclosures take place outside of the court and commence when the lender issues a notice of default.
Non-judicial foreclosure move more quickly than judicial foreclosures. The amount of time between the beginning of the foreclosure and the home auction vary widely from state to state. During this time you can typically stay in your home without paying the mortgage anywhere from two months to up to a year.
Delaying the Inevitable
Whether you face a judicial or non-judicial foreclosure, there are a few delay tactics you can employ to extend the amount of time you live in your home. In the case of a judicial foreclosure you must respond to the complaint filed against you or the foreclosure will be granted automatically.
You might consider hiring a foreclosure attorney that will file actions on your behalf, such as challenging the lender's right to foreclose, that extend the process and keep you in your home longer. For all foreclosures, filing for government assistance such as the Home Affordable Modification program will buy you time while your application is being considered. Another option is to file for bankruptcy, which can delay the foreclosure by 45 days to 75 days.
Waiting for Eviction
Once you have stalled as long as you can, eventually an auction or sheriff's sale will take place where someone will buy your house or the bank will repossess it. The amount of time you can stay in your home after the sale ranges from five to 30 days depending on which state you live in.
Once this period expires, it is up to the new owner to file an eviction lawsuit against you to force you to leave. If you contest it in court, the process can be delayed by several months. However, this can impair your ability to rent property in the future and if you lose the case you can be held liable for back rent. If the new owner wins the eviction lawsuit, a court order will be granted allowing the local sheriff to forcibly remove you.
References
- NOLO: Foreclosure Timeline: After You Miss Your First Payment
- NOLO: Foreclosure Timeline: Getting Notice to Leave
- Denha & Associates: Legal Avenues for Homeowners to Avoid/Delay Foreclosure Proceedings
- USA.gov. "Foreclosure." Accessed Feb. 13, 2020.
- Bank of America. "How Much Should You Put Down When Buying a Home?" Accessed Feb. 13, 2020.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "Determine Your Down Payment." Accessed Feb. 13, 2020.
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. "Fair Lending: Learn the Facts," Page 57. Accessed Feb. 13, 2020.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "How Does Foreclosure Work?" Accessed Feb. 13, 2020.
- Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute. "Mortgage." Accessed Feb. 13, 2020.
- National Credit Union Administration. "Personal Loans: Secured vs. Unsecured." Accessed Feb. 13, 2020.
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. "Foreclosure Process." Accessed Feb. 13, 2020.
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. "Are You at Risk of Foreclosure and Losing Your Home?" Accessed Feb. 13, 2020.
- New York State Unified Court System. "Common Defenses in a Foreclosure Case." Accessed Feb. 13, 2020.
- California Courts. "Foreclosure." Accessed Feb. 13, 2020.
- California Department of Real Estate. "Cash for Keys"- Information for Consumers and DRE Licensees," Page 1. Accessed Feb. 13, 2020.
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. "Redemption." Accessed Feb. 13, 2020.
- New York State Unified Court System. "Deficiency Judgments After Foreclosure." Accessed Feb. 13, 2020.
- Experian. "How Does a Foreclosure Affect Credit?" Accessed Feb. 13, 2020.
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. "Avoiding Foreclosure." Accessed Feb. 13, 2020.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "If I Can't Pay My Mortgage Loan, What Are My Options?" Accessed Feb. 13, 2020.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "What Is a Short Sale?" Accessed Feb. 13, 2020.
- Experian. "What Does Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure Mean?" Accessed Feb. 13, 2020.
- Federal Trade Commission. "When Paying the Mortgage Is a Struggle." Accessed Feb. 13, 2020.
Writer Bio
Currently living in Austin, Texas, Alexander Harris is a business journalist covering the self storage industry for SpareFoot.com and SelfStorage.com. Harris previously wrote daily news for RichmondBizSense.com, a business journal in his hometown of Richmond, Va. His work has appeared in various other publications including "Philadelphia Citypaper," Stateline.org, "RVA Magazine" and the "Virginian-Pilot." Harris holds a mass communications degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.